Metal cover



Nov. 27, 1951 B, LERMQNT 2 ,576,613

METAL COVER Filed NOV. 15, 1945 I 6 Sheets-rSheet l INVENTOR. BAs/LLER/vo/vT ,AQ, A TTWPA/EYJ.

Nov. 27, 1951 a. LERMONT 2,576,613

METAL COVER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WM W B. LERMONT Nov.27, 1951 METAL COVER 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1945 INVENTOR.ZAJ/L LEF/Vfl/Vf 444 M A TTflR/VE v;

Nov. 27, 1951 Filed Nov. 15, 1945 B. 'LERMONT METAL COVER 6 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. 5A5. LEE/70M? in Arne/vs m.

a. LERMONT METAL COVER Nov. 27, 1-951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fil'd Nov. 15,1945 INVENTOR. 5145/1. LERNo/VT B. LERMDNT Nov. 27, 1951 METAL COVER 6Shee'ts-Sheec 6 Filed Nov. I5, 1945 INVENTOR.

jAJ/L LISP/VON? BY W @PW AM Arm/emery Patented Nov. 27, 1951 METAL COVERBasil Lermont, New York, N. Y., assignor to Sutton Patents, Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 15, 1945',Serial No. 628,715

8 Claims. (01. 160-268) This invention relates to closures, cover ordoor members for buildings, vehicles, furniture and the like. It relatesparticularly to roll-like metallic closures that are useful as bomb baydoors for aircraft, sliding top and side panels for vehicles such aspassenger automobiles and trucks, cover members for desks, disappearingtypes of awnings and for many other types of devices having areas thatare adapted to be covered and uncovered.

An object of the invention is to provide satisfactory roll-type closuremember formed of a continuous sheet of metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide self opening, continuousmetal, roll-types of closure members.

A further object of the invention is to provide continuous metalclosuremembers that are of lighter weight than conventional metal doors.

An additional object of the invention is to provide continuous metalclosure members that require a minimum amount of space when open andwhich correspond to and merge into the contours of the device to whichthey are applied, when closed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of typical forms of closure members embodying the presentform of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, I have provided slidingclosure members which comprise inherently springy sheets of metal of anormally coiled form that can be drawn out into a longitudinally andtransversely curved form. The normal tendency of such stretched outsheets is to revert to their initially coiled form, and I have takenadvantage of this tendency to render the closure members substantiallyself-opening.

It has been recognized that when a sheet of metal is drawn through a dieor roll device that bends a sheet of metal transversely and stretches itin unequal increments from its center to its edges, stresses are set upin the sheet that cause the .sheet to coil uptightly. The sheet may beuncoiled into a longitudinally and transversely curved form by theapplication of tension to opposite ends of the sheet, but it will returnto its coiled form upon release of the tension.

In a typical closure or cover embodying the present invention, thecoiled sheet of metal may be supported by a member located at about theaxis of the coil. Tension applying elements may be connected to theouter free end of the sheet so that it can be uncoiled to assume thelongitldinally and transversely curved form described a ove.

Guiding means may be provided for receiving or engaging the lateraledges of the sheet to prevent deformation of the sheet and to controlthe position of the sheet when it is drawn out.

When the tension on the end of the sheet is relieved, the sheet willcoil itself up into its initial 7 form.

Closure members of the type described generally above are suitable foruse in aircraft where space is limited, weight must be kept at aminimum, and curved aerodynamic surfaces are essential for economy andspeed of operation of the aircraft.

The coiled sheets are also useful as sliding top or side closureelements for passenger vehicles and trucks and are adapted for use asroll-type awnings and the like for building structures and for manyother purposes. 6

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a typical coiled sheet of metalused in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the coiled sheet of metal; I

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic and persepctive view of a typical closuremember embodying the present invention used as a bomb bay door for anaeroplane as shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is an end view of the closure member of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the operating mechanism for the closuremember with the supporting elements removed;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the driving chainfor the closure;

. Figure 7 is a view in side elevation and partially broken away of alatch for retaining the closure member in closed position;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a supporting, framework for a closuremember useful in vehiclesv such as aircraft or passenger automobiles;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a closure member forming a sliding toppanel, with the supporting frameworkremoved, for a passenger vehicle,shown in dotted lines;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation of the closure member disclosed inFigure 9;

Figure 11 is a view in section taken through the guide channel on thesupporting framework of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a top view of a portion of the drive chain and lockingmechanism for the closure;

Figure 13 is a view partly in section of a catch for retaining theclosure in closed position;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a typical closure member applied to atruck, shown in dotted lines;

Figure 15 is a view in end elevation of the closure member; and V Figure16'is a perspective view illustrating the closure member used as anawning.

A particularly important usage for closure members of the type embodyingthe present invention is for bomb bay doors for aircraft. The doors usedheretofore have been hinged constructions consisting of a supportingframework formed of curved ribs and having a metallic skin secured tothe ribs. These doors are usually opened and closed by means ofhydraulic jacks or by electric motors.

In order to afford proper clearance for loading and dropping bombs, thedoors normally swing outwardly. As the doors swing outwardly they imposean increasing drag on the aeroplane thereby decreasing its speed andrendering it more vulnerable to anti-aircraft and aeroplane gunf re.oftentimes the doors are damaged by such gunfire-and it is impossible toclose them thereby decreasing the speed of the aeroplane when itisreturning from a bombing mission and moreover requiring the use of morefuel to offset the drag of the open doors.

The bomb bay door embodying the. present invention consists of a slidingpanel which may be arranged to fit substantially flush with the skin ofthe aeroplane. Inasmuch as the door is flush with the surface or skin ofthe aircraft, it does not impose a drag on the aircraft even when it isopen. When the door is closed, the aerodynamic characteristics of theaircraft are preserved.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the door may consist of a coiled sheet ofmetal Ill which may be formed in accordance with the disclosure of theLermont et a1. Patent No. 2,301,960, dated November 17, 1942. Asdescribed in this patent, when a sheet of metal I is drawn through thediesdisclosed in the patent, it is stretched unequally from edge to edgeand stresses are s t up in thesheet which cause it to coil upon itselfinto a tightly curled or coiled substantially cylindrical form. Such asheet is inherently springy even when it is formed'of a relativelynonspringy material such as Duralumin. Coiled stainless steel sheets arealso highly resilient and springy and, therefore, this material may beused satisfactorily in closures of the type about to be described.Similar sheets can be formed on devices having forming rolls or they maybe coiled and then heat treated to render them sprin y.

The sheet of .metal. In which is to be formed into a coil as disclosedin Figures land 2 may be drawn through dies in such a manner as toimpart a predetermined longitudinal and transverse curvature thereto.When using the sheet metal as a closure fora bomb bay door, the sheetpreferably will be formed so that its contours coincide with and carryout the aerodynamic shape of the fuselage of the aeroplane;

In a typical bomb bay door construction, the coiled sheet in maybemounted upon a cylindrical roller II which is journalled rotatably ona shaft 12. The shaft [2 may be secured at its opposite ends to frameelements of the aeroplane such as, for example, the member IS. The shaftit maybe located adjacent the edge M of the opening I ofthe bomb bay sothat when the- 4 sheet is drawn out it coincides with and fitssubstantially flush with the edge of the opening [4.

The outermost edge Illa. of the sheet may be secured to and renderedsubstantially rigid by means of a longitudinally curved cross bar l6 asshown in Figure 6. The ends of the bar l6 are secured to a pair of drivechains 11 and 18. The chain 11 is supported on a sprocket I9 which ismounted on the shaft I2 and upon another sprocket 20 that is carried bya shaft 2|. This latter shaft is driven by an electric motor 22. Thechain I8 is supported on a sprocket 23 carried by the shaft I2 and asecond sprocket 24 mounted on the left hand end of the shaft 2| as shownin Figure 3.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the shaft 2| may consist of threeuniversally connected sections 2Ia, 2H), and 2Ic so that the sprockets20 and 24 are positioned substantially normal to tangents to the surfaceof the sheet I!) when it is drawn out into its fully closed position. i

As shown in Figure 5, the outer end of the shaft section 210 isjournalled in a bracket 25 which is,

of the aircraft and the motor 22 is also mounted on a bracket 21 fixedto the skin 26 or other struc-- tural element of the aircraft.

When the motor 22 is operated it will exert a tension on the end Illa ofthe sheet thereby uncoiling the sheet from its supporting roll H andcausing it to move along in a, direction to close the opening I5.

In order to guide the sheet during its move-- ment and impart increasedrigidity to it, the

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the cross bar [6 has a rib or toothl6a thereon which is adapted to engage the hook member 30 which ispivotally supported on the upper arm 3i of a bifurcated member 32. Thearm 30a of the hook 30 is connected by a link 33 to a solenoid, notshown, so that the hook 30 can be actuated electrically to release thesheet for return to open position. Thus, when the sheet I0 is drawn outto close the 56 opening IS, the tooth IGa on the cross bar will displacethe hook 30 and willengage behind it where it is held in' fixedposition. The bar l6 can be released for opening the door byenergization of the solenoid and counterclockwise rotation 60 of thehook 30 as viewed in Figure 7. The sheet ID will then return to itscoiled form upon reversing operation of the motor, the springy action ofthe sheet tending to cause it to roll up as it moves to open position.To avoid damage'to the motor, the aircraft may be provided with a limitswitch 35 which" cuts off the supply of electrical energy to the motor22 when the closure has completely closed the opening l5.

While the invention has been described above with the guide andsupporting elementsfor the sheet as forming a part of the aeroplanestructure, a separate supporting element making theclosure a completeoperative unit permitting its is ready attachment and detachment may bepro-k1 fixed to the skin 26 or other structural element the leading edgeof the vided as disclosed in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 8, the sheetl8 may be supported upon a shaft I I which connects the frame members 36and 31 which are also connected at their opposite ends by means of abrace member 38. The operating elements such as the motor and the shaft2| may be carried by the frame members 36 and 31 as well as the guidechannels 28 and 29. In this way, the frame member forms a completesupport for the entire unit and facilitates servicing and replacement.

The closures of the type described above are useful for many otherpurposes such as for example for a sliding panel top for a passengerautomobile as shown in Figures 9 to 13 inclusive. In this construction,a frame member 40 like that described above is mounted in the top of theautomobile 4] around the periphery of an opening 42 in the top of thevehicle. The coiled sheet of metal 43 is carried by a roller 44 and ismounted on the shaft 45 fixed in the end of the frame 40 which alsocarries the sprockets 46 and 41 on which are supported the drive chains48 and 49. The drive chains are driven by means of a set of bevel gears50 that are connected by means of a drive shaft 5| and suitable clutchelement (not shown) to the engine of the vehicle. The side frame membersof the supporting frame 40 may be formed as a double tube 40a and 401)as shown in Figure 11 of the drawings. The upper tube 40a is providedwith a longitudinally extending slot 52 through which a cross bar 53passes that is connected at its opposite ends to the drive chains 48 and49. The cross bar 53 is connected to the leading edge 43a of the sheet43 so that as the cross bar 53 moves along with the chains 48 and 49,the sheet will be coiled or uncoiled depending upon the direction ofrotation of the sprockets. In order to reduce friction, the chains 48and 49 may be supported upon Micarta or similar blocks 54 and 55 in theupper and lower tubes 40a and 48b of the frame. An effective sealbetween the sheet 43 and the remainder of the car body may be providedby means of a rubber gasket 56 which extends around the periphery of theopening 42 and is carried in the channel 51 between the skin 58 of thecar and a downwardly turned flange 59 on the side frame member.

In order to latch the sheet 43 in closed position, the cross bar 53 maybe provided with one or more apertures 53a (Fig. 12) which are adaptedto be engaged by means of spring urged catches 68 affixed to the top ofthe vehicle at forward edge of the opening 4'2. As shown in Figure 13,each catch 60 may consist of a pin 6| having tapered upper end Sid and aring 61b at'its lower end. The catch BI is mounted in a channel member62 fixed to the vehicle body. The catch pin BI is urged upwardly bymeans of a coiled spring 63 interposed between a cross pin 64 thatextends through the pin SI and a bracket 65 secured to the lower surfaceof the channel member 62.

Thus when the cross bar 53 advances into engagement with the pin 51 thelatter is pushed downwardly until it comes into alignment with theaperture 53a at which time it snaps upwardly into the aperture 53a tolock the cross bar in position. The cross bar 53 may be released bypulling down on the ring fill) of each catch 60.

The closure member just described is equally applicable to trucks andother vehicles for use in closing the top or side panels of the truck. Atypical installation is disclosed in Figures 14 and 15. In thisconstruction-the coiled metal sheet 10 has a cross bar H at its outerend, the

opposite ends of the cross bar being connected to the drive chains 12and 13. The chains I2 and 13 are mounted at one end on sprockets whichare mounted on a shaft (not shown) driven by means of an electric motor14. The motor driven shaft also acts to support the coiled sheet ofmetal 18 for relative rotation. The opposite ends of the chains 12 and13 are supported by sprockets 15 and 16 which are mounted upon a shaft11 journalled in the truck body. The truck body also carries a pairofcatches l8 and 19 like the catches 68 described above, the lower ends ofthe catch pins being connected to a cross bar 80 having chains at itsopposite ends so that the catches can be released by pulling downwardlyon the chains 8011.

While the invention has been described above as being applied toclosures for vehicles, the closure members may be used for many otherpurposes. An example of such another usage is disclosed in Figure 16 ofthe drawings. In this form of the invention, a metallic sheet 8| is usedas a roll-type awning which may be installed over a door or a window 82,as disclosed.

The coiled sheet of metal 8| may be supported upon a shaft 83 which isjournalled in brackets 84 at its opposite ends which may be fixed to thebuilding structure above the window 82. A pair of arcuate guide members85 and 86 project outwardly from the building structure and may beinstalled permanently and supported in angular relationship to thewindow 82 by downwardly extending braces 81. In order to project theclosure 8|, a hand winch 88 may be fastened to the side of the buildingstructure and is provided with a cable 89 which is threaded overa pulley9| on the cross brace and through a pair of pulleys 92 and 93 carried bya cross member 94. The end of the cable 89 may be connected to astrengthening bar 95 fixed to the leading or outer end of the sheet ofmetal Bl.

When the winch 88 is rotated, tension is exerted, on the outer end ofthe sheet BI, and it will uncoil and move along the guide rails 85 and86 into extended position. When the winch is released as, for example,by freeing a pawl from a ratchet, not shown, the winch will unwind andthe awning sheet 8| will coil up and retract itself.

Closure members of the type described above may be used with equalfacility as doors for furniture, partitions in walls and for many otherpurposes. Their size and shape may be varied as the purpose demands andthe guide members and actuating mechanisms therefor are susceptible toconsiderable variation. Therefore, the forms of the invention describedabove should be considered as illustrative only and not as limiting thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A closure for a bomb bay having an opening in the undersurface of anaeroplane comprising a coiled sheet metal spring, means supporting saidcoiled spring rotatably adjacent to one edge of said bomb bay opening,said spring resisting uncoiling, guide means extending along oppositeedges of said opening adjacent to said one edge, and power driven meansadjacent to said guide means and connected to the outer end of saidspring for drawing said spring along said guide means and uncoiling saidspring against the resistance thereof to close said opening, said springnormally tending to coil to uncover saidopening.

2. A roll type closure comprising a frame member having side elements, acoiled sheet metal spring, said spring normally resisting uncoiling' andtending to coil up when uncoiled, means connected to said side elementssupporting said spring for free rotation at its axis, guide channels onsaid side elements for receiving the lateral edges of said spring, andmeans extending along said guide channels for exerting tension on saidspring for uncoiling it and drawing it along said channels, said springcoiling up when relieved of tension.

3. A retractable covering device comprising a coiled sheet metal springhaving outer and inner ends and opposite lateral edges, means rotatablysupporting said spring for winding and unwinding movement, meansconnected to said outer end of said spring for pulling said outer end ofsaid spring outwardly away from the supporting means to unwind saidspring and store energy therein, and guiding means adjacent to andextending outwardly from said'supporting means for engaging the lateraledges of said spring to support the unwound spring, said unwound springbeing urged to wound condition by the tension therein.

4. A roll type cover member comprising a coiled sheet metal spring,means to rotatably support said coiled spring for winding and unwindingmovement substantially about the axis of said spring, guide railsextending outwardly from adjacent to the ends of said spring, and meansconnected to the outer end of said spring for subjecting said spring totension along a line substantially parallel to said guide means tounwind and move said spring along said guide means, said springreturning to wound condition when relieved of said tension.

5. A roll type closure member for an opening comprising a coiled sheetmetal spring, means for rotatably supporting said coiled spring forwinding and unwinding movement, arcuate guide members extendingoutwardly from adjacent to said supporting means along said opening, andmeans connected to the outer end of said spring for subjecting saidspring to tension to at least partially unwind said spring to draw itout along and in engagement with said guide members to at leastpartially close said opening, said spring resisting unwinding wherebyrelease of said tension permits said spring to wind up and uncover saidopening.

6. A roll type closure member for an opening comprising a coiled sheetmetal spring, means rotatably supporting said coiled spring for windingand unwinding movement adjacent one edge of said opening, arcuate guidemembers extending outwardly from adjacent to said supporting means alongthe sides of said opening, and means connected to the outer end of saidspring for subjecting said spring to tension to at least partiallyunwind said spring and. draw it out along and in engagement with saidguide members to cover said opening and means for releasably lookingsaid spring in at least partially unwound condition, said springnormally winding upon itself to uncover said opening upon release ofsaid' locking means.

'7. A roll type cover member for an opening comprising a coiled sheetmetal spring which upon uncoiling assumes a transversely andlongitudinally curved form, curved guide means extending outwardly fromadjacent to said coil along the sides of said opening, said curvedsheet,

upon being extended, assuming a longitudinal curve substantiallycorresponding to the longitudinal curvature of said guide means, meansrotatably supporting said spring adjacent one end of said springsubstantially at its axis, and operating means connected to the outerend of said spring for drawing said end along said guide means andcausing said spring to rotate and unwind to cover said opening, saidspring normally resisting unwinding and tending to wind and uncover saidopening.

8. A closure for an opening in a structure having a curved surfacedefining the edges of said opening, comprising curved guide means onsaid curved surface extending along opposite edges of said opening, anormally coiled sheet metal spring of greater width than said openingand having longitudinal edges engageable with said guide means and innerand outer ends, said spring resisting uncoiling and normally tending tocoil, means rotatably supporting said coiled spring for free bodilyrotation at its axis and means to exert tension on the outer end of saidspring to uncoil it by bodily rotation thereof about its axis and drawsaid spring along said guide means to cover said opening, saidspringnormally tending to coil up to uncover said opening when relieved of thetension exerted to uncoil it.

BASIL LERMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Ifile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Laddon June 19,

